Therefore, oxytocin bombs will not result in world peace. Instead, oxytocin should be thought of as a hormone/neurotransmitter that fine-tunes our social processing. Sometimes it brings us together, sometimes it tears us apart.

Our understanding of individuals differences in the oxytocin system has been expanded by various researchers investigating how genetic variations of the oxytocin system influence social and emotional states and traits.

(*Admittedly, our sample size was quite small for this most recent paper, but it was the most we could gather from this particular study since our research team is now scattered across many universities. We would have loved nothing more than a bigger N! Nevertheless, we found our results to be quite interesting and wanted to share them. Our confidence in our findings is fortified by complementary data from our group and others on many hundreds of individuals and the fact that the results from our current study are context-dependent. Thus, we view these findings as preliminary and hope that we and others can flesh out this story in follow-up studies.)

Let's make note that there is no such thing as an "empathy gene" or "kindness gene." All of our personalities are colored by many genes and life experiences. It is foolish to think that one gene is completely responsible for complex social traits. However, as many research groups have shown, it makes sense that a tweak in the single gene coding for oxytocin's lone receptor would be related to a variety of emotional and social profiles.

I confess that I was completely distraught when I discovered that I have a genetic predisposition to develop all kinds of undesirable traits, but out of this I have developed some self-compassion. I have a better understanding of why certain experiences have caused me develop more a more severe case of the blues, social anxiety, and withdrawal. I also know that having an amazing family and group of friends coaxed me out of my hole of solitude. Everything depends on the context and how comfortable we feel in our genes. I clam up in some situations and can't stop talking in others. Along the same lines, some social venues cause me to feel quite anxious and make embarrassing vocal tics emerge, while others make me feel quite at home and at ease.

So, should all of us in the A team be forced to live in exile so the G team can be left alone to relish in all their wonderful traits? I know many of you are probably nodding, but again, it's not that cut-and-dry. Trust me when I say that many people in the A team are extraordinarily warm and compassionate. In fact, I would claim that some are hyperempathetic. We A types don't need fixing, just understanding.

Moreover, it turns out that OXTR rs53576 is sensitive to culture norms and social environment, and as a result, yields a culturally-divergent pattern on emotional support seeking, emotional suppression, and even the relationship between religion and well-being. Yes, certain ethnicities have evolved to have more of the A allele than others, but let's refrain from making generalizations, mmmmkay? Our brains want to lump everything in to black and white categories, but I hope that I am conveying to you that life isn't that simple, nor is oxytocin story. It is important to wise up and see all the exciting shades of gray out there in the human condition. Evolutionary changes are adaptive and so it is not productive or smart to think of these as good or bad. There are many societal advantages to processing hormonal cues in a context-specific manner.

It is my dream that the scientific community will continue to develop tools to help others who get trapped by their emotions by understanding what can make everyone feel good and be good to others, regardless of the hands we're dealt by genes and life. Everyone and anyone would benefit from a little compassion and a sincere hug.

I end with a plea for all you normal people to create a soft spot for us misfits. Don't feel sorry for those of us who struggle with social anxiety, eye contact, and getting sucked inward. Instead, try to lay off the snark, stink eye, and judgment and recognize that we all come from a different place and we all have our unique set of obstacles (yes, even you G allele folks). Plus, genetic diversity makes the world a much more interesting place. This earth would be extremely boring if we all acted and looked the same. Imagine if we were all loudmouths! Who would do the listening? Thank goodness for Mother Nature's tweaks! I think most people would agree that it would suck if every dog on the planet was a Chihuahua. Poodles, Terriers, Labradors, Pomeranians, etc. make existence more exciting and colorful, and different types of people sure make this globe a helluva lot more fascinating.

I really appreciated this article. I too am 'AA', and reading about your reaction and evental acceptance has helped me in coming to accept myself as well. Virtually everything else I read was negative, with supposed caring 'GG' and 'AG' types branding 'AA's as sociopaths or worse.

I think my type has in fact given me great strength: I almost certain that I am less susceptible to the optimistic and mastery biases that most people entertain (I wonder what the relationship between OXTR type and 'depressive realism' is?). This has enabled me to make formulate and modest but realistic life plan, to make the best use of my talents, rather than what I imagine them to be.

In a masters neuroscience program class some time ago I was asking some questions re oxytocin and one of my classmates said that giving oxytocin to pregnant women induces abortion. Is that true?

Also,

My masters thesis proposes a treatment for autism but my professors are (very) skeptical [ABA is the preferred treatment here]. The papers you reference here might help my case. I will go through them with a fine-toothed comb.